Self-Priming Surfacing Composition for Finished Surfaces

ABSTRACT

A surfacing composition made of recycled paint, which requires no priming, has a non-reflective “flat” appearance, and is partially composed of dried paint. The composition provides a useful application for used or excess household paint, which would otherwise require special methods of disposal and potentially create future toxic cleanup problems. The composition is made of granular dried paint and a water-based sealer, which can be spread on a surface to repair imperfections. The surface can then be finished, and no priming is required. Due to the composition&#39;s flat appearance, the patch does not display any characteristic sheen where the repair has been made. The composition provides a simple means of recycling paint, and provides a simple and inexpensive means of repairing imperfections in walls and other surfaces while saving the step of priming the patch before painting or repainting.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/239,587 (currently pending), filed on 26 Sep. 2008, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/239,587 cites for priority U.S. provisionalApplication No. 61/072,114 (now expired) filed on Mar. 28, 2008, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to the field of patchingcompositions, jointing compositions surfacing composition, andplastering compositions for surfaces. The present disclosure is alsodirected to methods of making surfacing compositions of the abovedescription, and to methods of their use.

BACKGROUND

Surfaces, including, but not limited to, finished surfaces and surfacesto be finished, commonly contain imperfections. In many cases, thesurface is a painted surface (such as but not limited to a wall) or thesurface is an unfinished surface that is to be painted. For example, awall in a residential structure may contain nicks, holes or otherimperfections as a result of daily activities and decorating. Theforegoing nicks, holes or other imperfections are desirably repaired tomaintain aesthetic qualities. In addition, when preparing buildings,drywall and other materials are joined together by jointing compositionsand imperfections in the drywall surface are smoothed using suchcompositions. Such imperfections are sometimes merely superficial, butmay pose a hazard to the integrity of the material if a protective layerof paint or other finish is breached.

Conventionally, such imperfections are filled using a patchingcomposition, jointing composition, surfacing composition, or plasteringcomposition (generally referred to herein as a surfacing composition),depending on the size and nature of the imperfection. The surfacingcomposition is applied to the imperfection, allowed to dry, and thenfinished as needed. When a repair is being made, the finish is appliedso as to match the original surface as closely as possible. Thesurfacing compositions is generally further prepared, such as by sandingand priming, before the finish is applied.

However, traditional surfacing compositions have certain drawbacks. Mostsurfacing compositions dry to a state that does not exactly match theoriginal surface. As a result, when finished, the repaired surface doesnot match the original finished surface, revealing that the area hasbeen repaired. For example, when surfacing compositions are applied to apainted surface, the repaired surface often has a shiny or glossyappearance. This sheen can only be eliminated through additional labor,but elimination of the sheen is not always possible with some surfacingcompositions. The repaired area would be more aesthetically pleasing ifthe surface of the patch were “flat” in appearance so as to match theoriginal surface. In addition, when surfacing compositions are used inconstruction to prepare unfinished surfaces, the area to which thesurfacing composition is applied may be visible after the finish isapplied. Furthermore, surfacing compositions are generally primed priorto painting, or the result will be inferior adhesion between the paintand the repair, leading to blistering, flashing, and other problems.Time and labor would be saved if no priming were necessary.

Paint itself poses a major disposal problem. Household paints areconsidered hazardous waste. Disposal of used and unneeded paint isexpensive, and is typically achieved through deposition of the paint ina landfill. Deposition in a landfill creates the possibility that thewaste paint will escape into the surrounding area, causing environmentalharm. In addition, the possibility that the waste paint will not beadequately contained creates potential civil and criminal liabilityshould environmental cleanup be required.

The proposed restrictions on the sale of alkyd paint in the UnitedStates may result in large quantities of unwanted alkyd paint requiringdisposal in the near future. Alkyd paints are oil-based paints in whichthe diluent or thinner is typically (but not always) a mineral spiritand in which the binder is an alkyd resin. Mineral spirits are volatileorganic compounds (VOC). Once alkyd paint is applied to a surface, themineral spirit evaporates, contributing significantly to VOC pollution.Proposed regulations would limit the use of alkyd paints formulated withVOC, and this will create a need for economical and safe methods ofrecycling these paints.

For the reasons described above, superior surfacing compositions areneeded that allow the repair of a finished surface and the finishing ofan unfinished surface such that the visibility of the surfacingcomposition is reduced as compared to prior art surfacing compositionsor eliminated. In addition, superior methods of recycling and reuse areneeded for both alkyd paints and other types of paints.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure provides a novel surfacing composition and methods forusing such a surfacing composition in repairing a finished surface,repairing an unfinished surface, and preparing an unfinished surface.For example, the surfacing compound may be used to plaster a surface,join/joint intersecting surfaces, and repair imperfections in a surface.In one embodiment, the surface is a painted wall. However, otherfinished surfaces are within the scope of the present disclosure. In oneembodiment, the unfinished surface is one or more sections of drywall;however, other unfinished surfaces are within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The description here illustrates and describes the methods,compositions, and other teachings of the present disclosure. Thedisclosure shows and describes only certain embodiments of the methods,compositions, and other teachings disclosed, but, it is to be understoodthat the teachings of the present disclosure are capable of use invarious other combinations, modifications, and environments and iscapable of changes or modifications within the scope of the teachings asexpressed herein, commensurate with the skill and/or knowledge of aperson having ordinary skill in the relevant art. The embodimentsdescribed are further intended to explain certain best modes known ofpracticing the methods, compositions, and other teachings of the presentdisclosure and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize theteachings of the present disclosure in such, or other, embodiments andwith the various modifications required by the particular applicationsor uses. Accordingly, the methods, compositions and other teachings ofthe present disclosure are not intended to limit the exact embodimentsand examples disclosed herein.

I. OBJECTS OF THE COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS

It is an object of some embodiments of the compositions and methods tosolve the problem of the difficulty of disposing of unneeded or usedpaint by incorporating the paint into a useful surfacing compositionthat does not require immediate disposal.

It is an object of some embodiments of the compositions and methods toprovide surfacing compositions for repairing a finished surface andpreparing an unfinished surface.

It is an object of some embodiments of the compositions and methods toeliminate or reduce (as compared to prior art surfacing compositions)the presence of distinguishing characteristics (such as but not limitedto a sheen) that are apparent when a surfacing composition has beenapplied to a surface, including both finished and unfinished surfaces.

It is an object of some embodiments of the compositions and methods toprovide a surfacing composition wherein a repaired surface displays noor reduced distinguishing characteristics (as compared to othersurfacing compositions) indicating where composition has been applied oran unfinished surface displays no or reduced distinguishingcharacteristics (as compared to other surfacing compositions) indicatingwhere the composition has been applied after the unfinished surface hasbeen finished.

It is an object of some embodiments of the compositions and methods tosolve the problem of the labor required to repair a finished surface andprepare an unfinished surface by providing a surfacing composition thatrequires no priming before being repaired or finished.

Other objects are served and problems in the art are solved byembodiments of the methods and compositions of this disclosure, as isunderstood by those skilled in the art.

II. DEFINITIONS

“Alkyd” as used herein means the class of binders formed by thecondensation of polyhydric alcohols with polybasic acids.

“Alkyd paint” as used herein means an oil-based paint in which thebinder is an alkyd.

“Fanning” as used herein means to direct a current of air upon a target.

“Finished Surface” as used herein means any surface that has beenfinished. Finishing can include painting, lacquering, shellacking,sealing, and the like.

“Granular” as used herein means in the form of relatively small grainsor particles.

“Including” as used herein is non-exclusive, and can be read to mean“including but not limited to.”

“Plastering” as used herein means to apply a composition as a coating orincrustation, and does not exclusively refer to the application ofplaster.

“Repair” as used herein means to restore the surface to an even contourmatching the areas around the repair.

“Sealer” as used herein means a finishing material, either clear orpigmented, that is usually applied directly over a surface for thepurpose of sealing the surface.

“Unfinished surface” as used herein means a surface that would normallybe finished after construction, preparation or repair, or a surface thatone intends to finish after construction, preparation or repair,regardless of whether the surface is actually finished. Finishing caninclude painting, lacquering, shellacking, sealing, and the like.

Terms used in the singular should be construed as including the plural,and vice-versa.

III. SURFACING COMPOSITIONS

The disclosure provides surfacing compositions for repairing a finishedsurface and preparing an unfinished surface. Some embodiments of thecompositions may be used as a volumizer in primer, increasing viscosityand aiding spreading. Such surfacing compositions are useful forjointing and patching imperfections in surfaces. Various embodiments ofthe surfacing compositions disclosed herein have various advantages overpreviously known surfacing compositions. Various embodiments of thesurfacing compositions have at least one of the following advantages:they dry rapidly after application to a surface; they do not requirepriming prior to painting; they can be applied to a wide variety ofsurfaces; they display good adhesion properties; they present a surfacewithout observable characteristics (such as but not limited to a sheen)that identify the location of the composition; and they provide a meansfor recycling waste paint.

The surfacing composition of the present disclosure comprises driedpaint. In certain embodiments, the dried paint may be granular innature. The granular dried paint can be obtained from any source. Thegranular dried paint can be obtained from a previously painted surface.In some embodiments of the surfacing composition, the granular driedpaint is obtained by removing paint from a previously painted surfaceand grinding the paint to generate a granular product. In certain ofthese embodiments impurities are removed from the dried paint prior tocombining the dried paint with the sealer. In certain of theseembodiments the granular dried paint is further dried after removal fromthe previously painted surface by any of the drying methods describedherein.

In some embodiments of the surfacing composition, the granular driedpaint can be obtained by drying and grinding a liquid paint. The liquidpaint can be from any source, including overspray, paint purchased inexcess of that needed for a job, paint manufactured in excess of orders,and paint that has been stored for a period of time exceeding itsacceptable shelf-life. The paint can be an acrylic (water-based) paintor an oil-based paint, including an alkyd paint. Alkyd paints have theadvantages of drying quickly and grinding well. The paint can be driedby any appropriate method known by those skilled in the art, includingheating, low pressure, or fanning (alone or in combination). In someembodiments of the surfacing composition, the liquid paint is dried byexposure to air at ambient temperature. In embodiments of the surfacingcomposition, the liquid paint is dried by fanning the paint. Fanning canbe achieved using any appropriate fan or blower, including even atypical hand-held hair drier for small batches. Larger fans and blowerscan be used as well. The paint may be heated during fanning. Heat may betransferred to the paint by conduction (for example, heating the vesselcontaining the paint), convection (for example, heating the air aroundthe paint, as in an oven), or radiation. Heat may be transferred to thepaint by heating the air with which the paint is fanned, for example byusing a heated blower. If fanning is used, air must be fanned over thepaint at a sufficient rate to facilitate drying.

Drying may be achieved by heating alone, or by heating in combinationwith fanning as explained above. When heat is used to achieve drying,the paint may be subjected to any temperature above the paint's freezingpoint at the pressure under which heating occurs. If heating occurs inthe presence of diatomic oxygen (or another strong oxidant), then thepaint may be dried at a temperature below its flash point. Alkyd paint,for example, typically has a flash point of about 100° F. (200° F.surface temperature with air movement). As a result, in embodiments ofthe surfacing composition in which a liquid alkyd paint is dried, dryingshould occur at temperatures below about 100° F. In some embodiments ofthe surfacing composition, drying is conducted at sub-atmosphericconcentrations of diatomic oxygen. In certain of these embodiments,alkyd paint may be dried at a temperature at or above about 100° F. Thesafe flashpoint of the particular alkyd paint under a particularconcentration of diatomic oxygen can be determined by one skilled in theart without undue experimentation.

In general, acrylic paint has a higher flash point than does alkydpaint. Accordingly, in some embodiments of the surfacing compositioncomprising acrylic paint, drying can be conducted at highertemperatures. Various embodiments of the surfacing composition employdrying temperatures of about 100-750° F., about 200-600° F., about250-500° F. and about 500°

The temperature may be varied during a given batch. Employing reducedpressure or fanning at a given temperature will achieve faster drying.

Oxygen may be reduced or excluded from the air around the paint duringdrying. The pressure may be varied to achieve drying, alone or incombination with heating or fanning. Pressures below one atmosphere willspeed drying at a given temperature. Reduced air pressure also has theeffect of reducing the effective oxygen concentration, which willincrease the flash point of the paint. Various embodiments of thesurfacing composition achieve drying at all, some, or none of thefollowing pressures: vacuum, 0.95 atmosphere (atm), 0.9 atm, 0.8 atm,0.75 atm, 0.7 atm, 0.6 atm, 0.5 atm, 0.4 atm, 0.3 atm, 0.25 atm, 0.2atm, 0.15 atm, and 0.1 atm.

The dried paint may be ground by any appropriate method known by thoseskilled in the art. For example, the dried paint may be ground by any ofthe following: a rotary mill, a ball mill, a rod mill, a mortar andpestle, a SAG mill, a pebble mill, an autogenous mill, a Buhrstone mill,grinding rolls, a colloid mill, a disk mill, an edge mill, a hammermill, and a Wiley mill. For small batches, dried paint may be ground ina household food processor, or a kitchen blender.

In some embodiments of the surfacing composition, the granular driedpaint is a mixed alkyd/acrylic granular dried paint. Because alkyd paintis generally volatile and has a low flash point, it is advantageous tomix liquid alkyd paint with a dried acrylic paint, as this allowsformation of a dried paint without heating the alkyd paint. The dilutionof the alkyd paint can also facilitate safer disposal.

Such a mixed alkyd/acrylic granular dried paint may be formed bycombining a granular dried acrylic paint with a liquid alkyd paint toform a wet paste, drying the wet paste to form a dried paste, andgrinding the dried paste. The term “dried paste” in this sense is notlimited to a substance that retains the properties of a paste (althoughin some cases the dried paste will retain the properties of a paste),but refers to the product of drying the wet paste. The granular driedacrylic paint can be produced by any method described herein. In someembodiments of the composition, the volumetric ratio of the granulardried acrylic paint to liquid alkyd paint is about 3:1 or exactly 3:1.The composition can be successfully formulated up to 95% dried acrylicpatent and as low as 5% alkyd paint. The dried paste can then be groundusing any of the approaches described herein, to form the mixedalkyd/acrylic granular dried paint.

In some embodiments of the composition, the composition essentiallyconsists of the sealer and the mixed alkyd/acrylic granular dried paint.The ratio of mixed alkyd/acrylic granular dried paint to sealer may befor example 40-80%, 50-70%, 55-65%, 60%, 75%, or about any of theforegoing.

To achieve mixing of the components of the wet paste and to facilitatedrying, the wet paste may be blended during drying. Blending can occurfor as long as necessary to achieve adequate mixing and drying. In somecircumstances this can be achieved in about two minutes. Such blendingcan be achieved by a person of ordinary skill in the art without undueexperimentation.

In some embodiments of the surfacing composition, the granular driedpaint is combined with the sealer after drying without furtherprocessing. In some embodiments, the granular dried paint is segregatedbased on particle diameter prior to combining with the sealer. Thegranulated dried paint may be segregated by any means known in the artto ensure consistency of the grain size. In some embodiments of thesurfacing composition, segregation is performed to produce a granulardried paint with a consistency approximating that of flour. For example,in some embodiments, the paint is first sifted with a #80 sieve; theretained fraction (“retentate”) of the #80 sieve is farther siftedthrough either of a #20 sieve or a #25 sieve. The fraction that passesthrough the #20 or #25 sieve (“siftate”) is combined with a sealer asdescribed herein. In some embodiments, the granular dried paint issifted such that about 90% of the granular dried paint has a diameter upto about 2.0 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter is about 0.18-2.0 mm.In some embodiments, the diameter is about 0.17-0.70 mm. In someembodiments, segregation is achieved using a household flour sifter.Finer granular dried paint has the advantage of being more easily spreadin the surfacing composition.

The granular dried paint is combined with a sealer. In variousembodiments of the surfacing composition, the ratio of granular driedpaint to sealer is at least one of the following: 40-80%, 50-70%,55-65%, 60%, and about these values. For example, one embodiment of thecomposition is the product of mixing 24 volumetric ounces of granulardried paint with 16 fluid ounces of sealer (a volume: volume ratio of60%).

The paint and the sealer may be combined by any method known in the art.Such methods of combining include blending, shaking, mixing, stirring,and admixing. Combining may be performed with any appropriate equipment,depending on the scale of the batch to be prepared. Appropriateequipment includes, for example, a commercial paint blender (such as theCEI FlowMaster sold by ColorEng Inc. of Hudson, N.H.), a drill-mountedpaint blender (such as those sold by Vermont American Tools, ofLincolnton, N.C.), a table-top shaker (such as the Blair 51000, sold byBlair Equipment Company of Flint, Mich.), a commercial kitchen armmixer, and a household mixer.

Embodiments of the surfacing composition may comprise any sealer. Thesealer may be water-based, oil-based, or alkyd-based. In someembodiments of the surfacing composition, the sealer comprises awater-based acrylic sealer. In certain of these embodiments, the sealerfurther comprises a styrene-acrylic resin. The sealer may or may notfurther comprise a pigment, including (but not limited to) titaniumdioxide or extender pigments. In various embodiments of the surfacingcomposition the sealer may comprises at least one of the following:texanol (CAS number 25265-77-4), styrene copolymer (CAS number25750-06-5), styrene acrylic copolymer (CAS number 25085-34-1), andformaldehyde. In various embodiments of the surfacing composition, thesealer may comprise at least one of the following: limestone, titaniumdioxide, and quartz.

The surfacing composition may also be provided in the form of a kit forrepairing an imperfection in a surface to be finished, a kit forjointing two intersecting surfaces, or a kit for plastering a surface.

IV. METHODS OF REPAIRING, JOINTING, AND PLASTERING A SURFACE

The disclosure provides methods of repairing a finished surface usingany of the surfacing compositions disclosed herein. The repair maycorrect any damage to the surface, including, but not limited to, hammerdings, nail holes, tack holes, screw holes, fissures, cracks,indentations, excisions, and the like. The surface may be a finishedsurface or an unfinished surface.

The disclosure provides methods of preparing an unfinished surface,using any of the surfacing compositions disclosed herein.

In the foregoing, the presence of distinguishing characteristics (suchas but not limited to a sheen) that are apparent when a surfacingcomposition has been applied to a surface, including both finished andunfinished surfaces, is eliminated or reduced (as compared to priorsurfacing compositions).

Through the methods described herein, at least one of the followingadvantages is obtained: the surfacing composition dries rapidly afterapplication to a surface; the surfacing composition does not requirepriming prior to painting; the surfacing composition can be applied to awide variety of surfaces; the surfacing composition displays goodadhesion properties; the surfacing composition presents a surfacewithout observable characteristics (such as but not limited to a sheen)that identify the location of the composition; and the surfacingcomposition provides a means for recycling waste paint.

The surface may be virtually any type of construction. In someembodiments of the surfacing composition, the surface is any of thefollowing: drywall, metal, metal frame, plaster, concrete, cement board,stucco, stone, artificial stone, fiber cement, vinyl, PVC, wood, woodcomposite, aluminum composite, brick, adobe, cannabrick, cast earth,cast stone, cob, earthen plaster, glass, tile, asphalt, terra cotta, andceramic.

Some embodiments of the method comprise applying a surfacing compositioncomprising a sealer and a granular dried paint over a repaired area, therepaired area comprising an imperfection; allowing the composition todry; and finishing the repaired area. In certain of these embodimentsthe repaired area is not primed prior to finishing. The surfacingcomposition may be any embodiment of the surfacing composition taught inthis disclosure. The surfacing composition may be applied by any meansknown in the art, for example by spreading the surfacing compositionwith a putty knife (also known as a Spackle knife). One coat ofsurfacing composition may be sufficient. In some embodiments of themethod, two or more coats of surfacing composition are applied. Someembodiments of the method further comprise sanding the composition oncedry and prior to painting, although this is not always necessary. Someembodiments of the method comprise texturing the repaired area, usingspray texture or other means.

The disclosure provides methods for jointing two intersecting surfacesto be finished, using any of the surfacing compositions disclosedherein. The intersecting surfaces may be finished or unfinished. Someembodiments of the method comprise jointing the intersecting surfaceswith the surfacing composition; allowing the composition to dry; andfinishing at least a portion of one surface. In some embodiments of themethod the surfacing composition is used in the same manner as aconventional jointing composition. In each case, the surfaces may befinished or unfinished.

The disclosure further provides methods for plastering a surface to befinished, using any of the surfacing compositions disclosed herein. Someembodiments of the method comprise plastering the surfacing compositionover the surface; allowing the composition to dry, and finishing thesurface. In each case the surfacing composition is used in the samemanner as a conventional plastering composition, as is understood bythose skilled in the art. In each case, the surfaces may be finished orunfinished.

V. EXAMPLES Production of Small Batches of Surfacing Composition

The following non-limiting examples merely illustrate certainembodiments of the compositions and methods described in thisdisclosure. These examples illustrate the production of small batches ofthe surfacing composition using household equipment. The processes maybe scaled up to produce larger quantities as would be understood bythose skilled in the art.

A. Example 1

In this example, the dried granular paint was acrylic paint. Liquidacrylic paint was obtained unused from the can, and poured into an18″×24″ baking pan. The pan was placed in a preheated oven at 500° F.for 8 minutes. After this time the paint was dry. The dried paint wasthen ground in a food processor. The granular dried paint was thenfurther ground in a blender until it achieved the consistency of flour.The floury granular dried paint was then combined with sealer at a ratioof 16 volumetric ounces of sealer to 24 volumetric ounces of paint. Thesealer was ICI Paints Prep & Prime Bond Prep interior/exteriorwater-based pigmented masonry bonding primer sealer (Imperial ChemicalIndustries, Ltd., Berkshire, England).

The surfacing composition was applied to a hammer ding in a drywallsurface. The composition was spread over the area comprising the hammerding with a putty knife and allowed to dry. The repaired area waspainted without priming. The resultant repair showed no characteristicsheen from the repair, did not re-wet when exposed to moisture, and tookpaint without flashing, providing a high-quality patch.

B. Example 2

In this example the granular dried paint was an alkyd paint. Liquidalkyd paint was obtained unused from the can, and poured into a 18″×24″baking pan. The paint was dried using a household hair drier, with theheating element deactivated. After the paint was dried, the dried paintwas ground in a food processor. The granular dried paint was thenfarther ground in a blender until it achieved the consistency of flour.The floury granular dried paint was then combined with sealer at a ratioof 24 volumetric ounces of paint to 16 volumetric ounces of sealer. Thesealer was ICI Paints Prep & Prime Bond Prep interior/exteriorwater-based pigmented masonry bonding primer sealer (Imperial ChemicalIndustries, Ltd., Berkshire, England).

In each instance, the surfacing composition was applied to animperfection in a drywall surface. The composition was spread over thearea comprising the imperfection with a putty knife and allowed to dry.The repaired area was painted without priming. The resultant repairshowed no characteristic sheen from the repair, did not re-wet whenexposed to moisture, and took paint without flashing, providing ahigh-quality patch.

C. Example 3

In this example the granular dried paint was a mixed alkyd/acrylicgranular dried paint.

The acrylic (latex) paint was dried at 500° F. in an oven for tenminutes in an 18″×24″ baking pan. The dried acrylic paint was ground ina food processor with a sigmoid blade for 6-7 minutes. A liquid alkyd(polyurethane) paint was added to the dried ground acrylic paint, at avolumetric ratio of 3 parts dried acrylic paint to 1 part liquid alkydpaint. The mixture was blended using a kitchen dough mixer until themixture took on a dry appearance, forming small pellets (after about 2minutes). The granular dried paint was then further ground in a blenderuntil it achieved the consistency of flour. The floury granular driedpaint was then combined with sealer at a ratio of 24 volumetric ouncesof paint to 16 volumetric ounces of sealer. The sealer was ICI PaintsPrep & Prime Bond Prep interior/exterior water-based pigmented masonrybonding primer sealer (Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., Berkshire,England).

In each instance, the surfacing composition was applied to animperfection in a drywall surface. The composition was spread over thearea comprising the imperfection with a putty knife and allowed to dry.The repaired area was painted without priming. The resultant repairshowed no characteristic sheen from the repair, did not re-wet whenexposed to moisture, and took paint without flashing, providing ahigh-quality patch.

1. A surfacing composition for repairing a surface or preparing anunfinished surface, the composition comprising a sealer and a mixedalkyd/acrylic granular dried paint.
 2. The surfacing composition ofclaim 1, wherein the mixed alkyd/acrylic granular dried paint is aproduct of a process comprising: a. combining a granular dried acrylicpaint with a liquid alkyd paint to form a wet paste; b. drying the wetpaste to form a dried paste; and c. grinding the dried paste to form amixed alkyd/acrylic granular dried paint.
 3. The surfacing compositionof claim 1, wherein the volumetric ratio of granular dried acrylic paintto liquid alkyd paint is exactly 3:1 or about 3:1.
 4. The surfacingcomposition of claim 2, wherein the granular dried acrylic paint is theproduct of the process comprising: a. obtaining a dried acrylic paint;and b. grinding the dried acrylic paint to form a granular dried acrylicpaint.
 5. The surfacing composition of claim 4, wherein obtaining adried acrylic paint further comprises: a. obtaining a liquid acrylicpaint; and b. drying the liquid acrylic paint to form the dried paint.6. The surfacing composition of claim 5, wherein the liquid acrylicpaint is dried by: (a) subjecting the liquid acrylic paint to anincreased temperature, (b) fanning the liquid acrylic paint, (c)subjecting the liquid acrylic paint to a low pressure, (a) and (b), (a)and (c), (b) and (c), or (a), (b) and (c).
 7. The surfacing compositionof claim 6, wherein the increased temperature is at least one of thefollowing: about 100-750° F., about 200-600° F., about 250-500° F., andabout 500° F.
 8. The surfacing composition of claim 2, furthercomprising blending the wet paste during drying.
 9. The surfacingcomposition of claim 8, wherein blending the wet paste comprisesblending the wet paste for at least two minutes.
 10. The surfacingcomposition of claim 1, wherein the surfacing composition consistsessentially of the sealer and the mixed alkyd/acrylic granular driedpaint.
 11. The surfacing composition of claim 1, wherein the sealercomprises a water-based acrylic sealer.
 12. The surfacing composition ofclaim 11, wherein the sealer further comprises at least one: of astyrene-acrylic resin, a pigment, texanol, styrene copolymer, limestone,titanium oxide, quartz, and formaldehyde.
 13. The surfacing compositionof claim 1, wherein the volumetric ratio of mixed alkyd/acrylic granulardried paint to sealer is selected from the group consisting of: about40-80%, about 50-70%, about 55-65%, and about 60%.
 14. The surfacingcomposition of claim 1, wherein about 90% of the mixed alkyd/acrylicgranular dried paint has a diameter selected from the group consistingof: about 2.0 mm, about 0.18-2.0 mm, and about 0.17-0.7 mm.
 15. Thesurfacing composition of claim 1, wherein the composition displays aneliminated or reduced distinguishing characteristic indicating wherecomposition has been applied.
 16. The surfacing composition of claim 1S,wherein the distinguishing characteristic is a sheen.
 17. A surfacingcomposition for repairing a surface to be finished, the compositioncomprising: a. a sealer comprising by weight about 20-30% limestone,about 5-10% titanium oxide, about 0.1-1.0% quartz, about 1-5% texanol,about 5-10% styrene copolymer, about 0.01-0.10% formaldehyde, about40-50% water, and about 5-10% styrene acrylic copolymer; and b. a mixedalkyd/acrylic granular dried paint comprising a product of a processconsisting of: i. obtaining a liquid acrylic paint, subjecting the paintto an elevated temperature of about 500° F. to form a dried paint, andgrinding the dried paint to form a granular dried acrylic paint; ii.combining three parts by volume of the granular dried acrylic paint withone part by volume of liquid alkyd paint, to form a wet paste; iii.drying the wet paste to form a dried paste; and iv. grinding the driedpaste to form a mixed alkyd/acrylic granular dried paint; wherein thesurfacing composition comprises about 25% sealer by volume.
 18. A methodof repairing a surface, the method comprising a. applying the surfacingcomposition of any of claims 1-22 to a portion of an area to repairedcontaining a defect to be repaired, to produce a repaired surface; b.allowing the composition to dry; and c. finishing the repaired surface;wherein the repaired area is not primed prior to finishing.
 19. A methodof applying a surfacing composition to a surface, comprising: a.applying the surfacing composition of any of claims 1-17 to an area ofthe surface; b. allowing the surfacing composition to dry, and c.finishing a portion of the area of the surface.
 20. The method of claim19, wherein the method is a method of repairing a surface to befinished, wherein the area of the surface to be applied is a repairedarea, and wherein the portion of the area to be finished is the repairedarea.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the repaired area is notprimed after applying and prior to finishing.
 22. The method of claim19, wherein the surface is selected from the group consisting of:drywall, metal, metal frame, plaster, concrete, cement board, stucco,stone, artificial stone, fiber cement, vinyl, PVC, wood, wood composite,aluminum composite, brick, adobe, cannabrick, cast earth, cast stone,cob, earthen plaster, glass, tile, asphalt, terra cotta, and ceramic.23. The method of claim 20, wherein a repaired area displays aneliminated or reduced distinguishing characteristic indicating wherecomposition has been applied or wherein an unfinished surface displaysan eliminated or reduced distinguishing characteristic indicating wherethe composition has been applied after the unfinished surface has beenfinished.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the distinguishingcharacteristic is a sheen.
 25. The method of claim 18, wherein themethod is a method of plastering a surface to be finished, wherein thearea of the surface to be applied is a surface in need of plastering,and wherein the portion of the area to be finished is at least a portionof the surface in need of plastering.
 26. The method of claim 19,wherein the method is a method of jointing two intersecting surfaces,wherein the area of the surface to be applied is the intersection of thetwo surfaces, and wherein the portion of the area to be finished is atleast a portion of the intersection of the two surfaces.
 27. The methodof claim 19, wherein the method is a method for filling or covering agap in a surface, wherein the area of the surface to be applied is agapped portion of the surface, and wherein the portion of the area to befinished is the gapped portion of the surface.
 28. A kit comprising anyof the surfacing compositions of claims 1-17.
 29. The kit of claim 28,wherein the kit is for at least one of: repairing a surface to bepainted, plastering a surface to be painted, and jointing twointersecting surfaces.